AD.
Miss Eden to her Sister, Lady Buckinghamshire.
EDEN FARM,
December 1814.
MY DEAREST SISTER, Mary’s first letter is arrived, so I must begin copying and extracting, and abridging, as if I had never done anything else all my life.
But I must begin by observing that we all parted most heroically on Wednesday morning, not the least in the O’Neil style, but we were all as cool as cucumbers, and as hard-hearted as rocks. (What beautiful similes!) Mary looked very smart, her coat was covered with grey vandykes, which does not sound pretty, but looked very well, and her hat of course matched it exactly. She says they did not arrive at Shottesbrook[18] till late, as they went round and round the place several times before the postboy could find the entrance....
We heard from Morton[19] the other day, a long account of his gaieties. He has been showing Oxford to the Feildings, and the Meerveldts[20] (what a difficult word to spell), and then was invited to go to Middleton with them, where he met the Worcesters, Cowpers, Eustons, and the Duke of Devonshire. We are rather in dread of his return, and to find him grown very fine, which will be an unlucky turn to take....
Mrs. Percival’s[21] marriage shocked us all, as we had not heard of it before, but Mrs. Moore sent in word of it, and of the gentleman’s name afterwards. Ever your affec. sister,
EMILY EDEN.
Miss Eden to her Sister, Lady Buckinghamshire.
EDEN FARM,
December 23, 1814.